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Brief Synopsis

Supported avidly by his mother and more reluctantly at first by his father, a working-class Austrian boy joins the Vienna Choirboys, where he proves to be unusually talented. The standard initiation ordeals which new boys must endure at the hands of their seniors are intensified in his case because he has aroused the jealousy of Peter, the head chorister, by singing a solo which Peter had long sung himself. The fact is that Peter's voice is breaking, and with a broken voice often comes a broken heart. But, encouraged by the director and all the boys, Peter begins to develop in a new role as composer and conductor.

Thirteen-year-old Toni Fiala wins a place in the Vienna Boys' Choir at an audition held by choir director Eisinger. With his mother's encouragement, he overcomes the opposition of his father, a railway engineer, and is permitted to join the choir. Since his scholarly abilities are limited, he faces the problem of maintaining the good grades required by both his father and the choir school. During his first few days at the school, Toni is placed in the care of Peter Schaefer, the oldest member of the choir. Their initial friendship turns to distrust when Peter learns that choirmaster Max Heller is teaching Toni a song that has always been one of Peter's solos. At first, he tries to sabotage Toni's chances of success in the choir, but later he accepts and even helps his young friend. Just before they are scheduled to leave on a tour, the boys discover that Peter's voice has cracked. They attempt to cover for him, but the deception is revealed. Due to his unusual ability to compose and conduct, however, Peter is permitted to go on tour as an assistant conductor.